Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani has called for a review of the cases of nearly 4,000 Nigerians currently on death row in correctional centres across the country.
Sani made the call in a post via his X handle on Friday, warning that the growing number of death row inmates has become a major burden on the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“There are close to 4K Nigerians on death row (awaiting execution) in the Nigerian Prisons now known as the correctional facility. Many have been there for over 30 years, since the military era. No governor wants to sign their execution and no one wants to commute their sentence,” he stated.
According to him, managing death row inmates poses serious security and psychological challenges for correctional officers, as the inmates are difficult to handle due to their situation.
“Managing a person on death row is tough security and mental problem for the correctional services. They are not as easy to handle, in view of their situation,” he said.
While acknowledging the sensitive nature of capital offences, Sani said a review of their cases has become necessary to decongest facilities and ensure humane management of inmates.
“It’s not easy to take a decision on capital offences, but their cases need be reviewed to ease the burden on the services. The correctional services can give the government the best advice on those among them who deserve clemency,” he added.
According to the Nigerian Correctional Service, the nation’s correctional system remains heavily burdened, with over 81,000 inmates nationwide, of which about 68 per cent are awaiting trial.
Official figures put death row inmates at over 3,000, though NGOs and other reports put the figure closer to 4,000, with some inmates spending more than 15 years on death row.
By law, state governors must sign death warrants after Supreme Court confirmation, or exercise the prerogative of mercy to commute sentences, but most governors have maintained a silent moratorium since 2016.
Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole signed one warrant in 2016, while former Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan pardoned three death row inmates in 2014.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had previously pledged to decongest facilities, including exploring non-custodial measures for over 4,000 inmates unable to pay fines.
Shehu Sani, a former political prisoner under the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime, has consistently advocated for prison reforms, recently describing congested cells as “hell on earth” following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Niger State.
